New spec will allow for high-power USB 3.0 ports

By 2012, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports could be delivering up to 100 watts to connected devices

by Allen Ngo, 2011/08/09

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group announced this Tuesday new plans for an extension of the USB 3.0 specifications to allow for delivery of more power.

According to its press release, the new spec will be able to deliver higher voltages and current up to 100 watts and will work equally well on both USB 2.0 and 3.0 with existing cables and connectors. “Conceivably, a notebook PC could rely solely on a USB connection for its source of power,” said USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman Brad Saunders.

Currently, a normal USB 2.0 port provides a 5V supply with at most 500mA per port, while USB 3.0 offers around the same voltage but with up to 900mA per port.

The new spec is expected to be ready for review and publication by early 2012, so notebooks and PCs sporting the new high-power USB port could begin popping up soon after that. It would be interesting to see the adoption rate of the new specification as USB 3.0 is still a long ways off from becoming ubiquitous.

Press Release

USB 3.0 Promoter Group Announces Plan to Release New Power Delivery Specification

New Capabilities of Forthcoming Specification Will Significantly Extend Use of Micro-USB connectors for Battery Charging

IDF 2011 San Francisco

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The USB 3.0 Promoter Group is announcing that it is creating a new power delivery specification which will significantly extend the capabilities and usages of cable bus power in USB applications. The new specification will enable delivery of more power via the familiar USB connectors and cables, and will coexist with the USB Battery Charging 1.2 specification and existing USB bus-powered applications.

“Building on the rapidly increasing industry momentum for using USB bus power to charge a broad range of mobile devices, the new USB Power Delivery specification extends USB’s cable power delivery capabilities beyond simple battery charging”

Key characteristics of the forthcoming USB Power Delivery solution include:

Compatible with existing cables and connectors

Enables voltage and current values to be negotiated over the USB power pins

Enables higher voltage and current in order to deliver power up to 100W

Switchable source of power delivery without changing cable direction

Coexists with USB Battery Charging 1.2 and works equally well with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0

“Building on the rapidly increasing industry momentum for using USB bus power to charge a broad range of mobile devices, the new USB Power Delivery specification extends USB’s cable power delivery capabilities beyond simple battery charging,” said Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman. “For example, charging the battery of a notebook PC, or simply powering that notebook PC while actively using the USB data connection, would be possible. Conceivably, a notebook PC could rely solely on a USB connection for its source of power.”

The USB Power Delivery specification is targeted for industry review during the final quarter of this year. Further information regarding the specification and plans for a pre-release industry review will be provided at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), September 13-15, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Early in 2012, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group intends to transition the final specification to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) for publication and establishment of the ecosystem and associated compliance program.

About the USB 3.0 Promoter Group

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group, comprised of Hewlett-Packard Company, Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Renesas Electronics, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments, developed the USB 3.0 specification that was released in November 2008. In addition to maintaining and enhancing this specification, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group develops specification addendums to extend or adapt its specifications to support more platform types or use cases where adopting USB 3.0 technology will be beneficial in delivering a more ubiquitous, richer user experience.

About the USB-IF

The non-profit USB Implementers Forum, Inc. was formed to provide a support organization and forum for the advancement and adoption of USB technology. The USB-IF facilitates the development of high-quality compatible USB devices through its logo and compliance program, and promotes the benefits of USB and the quality of products that have passed compliance testing. Further information, including postings of the most recent product and technology announcements, is available by visiting the USB-IF website at www.usb.org.